A Tough Relationship
Jasmine Dragon, Inner Ring of Ba Sing Se (late morning)
She kissed Aang passionately and he returned it by deepening it. They continued to kiss as the sun set behind them.
They both pulled away from the passionate kiss and looked into each other's eyes. Gray to blue. Blue to Gray. Katara smiled and sighed as she embraced him once more.
Aang finally broke the silence by saying, "I I thought you were confused."
Katara sighed and closed her eyes, "I was . then. But now that the war's over, I can think about having a relationship with you." She murmured the last word, pulling away and looking back into his eyes.
Aang smiled and gave her a quick peck on the lips. "I .I've loved you since I first saw your face when you broke me out of the iceberg," and then he chuckled and said, "I thought I was dead and you were my angel."
Katara laughed a bit and blushed.
"To tell the truth, I loved you too but not until you were shot by Azula's lightning did I realize I can't live without you." Katara said, almost tearing up at the painful memory.
Aang looked down, realizing all the pain he put her through, but then he looked up and smiled saying, "But I'm with you now, and that's all that matters."
Katara smiled back and said, "I know."
They both leaned in for another kiss, wrapping their arms around each other to deepen it.
OoO
"Fine! I'll just start over then! Since you all hate it so much!" Sokka muttered, crossing his arms and turning away in his chair.
"I think it's good, Sokka." Toph said, walking up behind him.
"Well, thank you, Toph, that makes me HEY!" Sokka yelled, "You can't see, stop trying to cheer me up!"
"Well, I'm sure it's fine. With a lot of practice, I bet you could be really good at painting." Toph said, smiling.
"Yeah, I guess I could wait." Sokka said, realizing that Toph. Isn't. That. Nice. He stood up and pointed his finger at her face, "Who are you and what have you done with Toph!"
"It's me, Sokka...Hey, I CAN BE NICE YA KNOW!" Toph yelled, crossing her arms.
"Sorry, it just never really occurred to me." Sokka said, shrugging.
"Hmph," Toph pouted, walking back to her chair and drinking the last of her tea.
"Hey," Sokka said, realizing his sister had left the room, "Does anyone know where Katara went?"
"Oh," Zuko said, pointing to the doorway, "She went out there ." He noticed the kissing couple there and quickly said, "But I don't think you should go out there, ummm, there's uh, robbers?"
"Robbers? My sisters in danger!" Sokka yelled, running out of the shop.
Mai glanced to Zuko with smirk face and nice-choice-of-words-thanks-to-you-ruined-it. to him. They're doomed. Everyone thought.
OoO
Sokka ran out of the teashop and saw a sight that he didn't want to see. His sister making out with the Avatar. His jaw practically dropped to the floor and everyone else ran out of the teashop.
"WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING TO MY SISTER'S FACE!" Sokka screamed, his face turning redder than an apple.
Aang and Katara's eyes both opened wider than you could ever imagine as they heard Sokka's voice.
Ohhhhh! I'm gonna die! I'm gonna die! I'm gonna die! I'm gonna die!
Shut up, Katara! Stay calm!
Sokka was fuming. He ran up to the couple and pushed them apart faster than a cheetah-rhino.
"Sokka! It's not what you think!" Katara said, scared out of her wits. The rest of the gaang standing behind Sokka was getting a kick out of this.
"Oh! It's exactly what I think!" Sokka said, turning from Katara to Aang and back again.
His eyes locked onto Aang and he yelled, "You!"
Aang's eyes opened wide as a very angry Sokka tackled him to the ground.
"How could you do that! I thought I could trust you!" Sokka yelled at the still shocked airbender.
"Sokka! Get off of Aang!" Suki shouted while pulling her boyfriend off of Aang.
Aang was still wide-eyed while he stood up and ran over to Katara. Sokka was trying to calm himself down. After about a minute of silence, Sokka said, "I'm sorry I overreacted."
Aang gulped and said, "It's okay "
"But when did you guys start .ya' know ..kissing and stuff?" Sokka asked, still with an angry expression plastered across his face, "How many times have you ..?"
"Umm, well," Katara began.
"We . well, you've seen Katara kiss me on the cheek before " Aang said, blushing nervously.
"Uh, huhhhh." Sokka said, tapping his foot on the ground.
"But, we've kissed on the lips uh ..four times." Aang said, looking away in shame.
Sokka's eye's widened and his mouth opened slightly, "And when did all of this happen! I'm pretty sure I've been with you guys like, all the time!" Sokka threw his hands up in the air.
"Um, in the Cave of Two Lovers we ," Katara began, getting cut off by Sokka.
"So you did kiss! I had a feeling, right in here." Sokka said, tapping his forehead.
"Yeah, and I kissed Katara right before the invasion." Aang said, still blushing like crazy, "and at the play and Katara kissed me today sooooo, yeah, that's four."
"Wow I must not pay attention to these things " Sokka said, leaning back on the wall of the Jasmine Dragon.
There was a silence before Aang said, "Uh ..sorry?"
"No, Aang," Sokka said, closing his eyes, "I'm sorry for tackling you, you two make a great couple."
"Really?" Aang asked with a smiling.
"Yes, just .try to avoid kissing while I'm around .please?" Sokka asked.
"Okay." Katara and Aang said.
"Shall we go inside now? It's getting late." Iroh said, smiling.
"Yeah," replied the gaang. They all walked in laughing and smiling. Katara and Aang held hands and smiled at eachother. When they came to their rooms, they hugged and Aang gave Katara a kiss goodnight. The girl blushed and walked into the room smiling.
OoO
Suki ran up to her and squealed.
Katara's eyes widened at Suki's extremely happy expression. She scooted away from her and sat down on her bed. Mai rolled her eyes, smiling, at the happy teen. She then laid down to go to sleep.
"Oh, I'm so excited for you! I was waiting for him to kiss you but then you kissed him-oh!- it's so great!" Suki said, hopping up and down.
"Wow, Suki," Katara said, laughing, "I never knew you had this much excitement stored in you."
They both laughed and Toph came into the room. She walked in front of Katara and yelled, "Sugar Queen makes the move! Woo!" She grinned widely and raise her arms high then closed her eyes.
Katara blushed and said, "Well, the war's over now so I don't think anything will complicate me and Aang being together. And Aang doesn't need to concentrate on anything big anymore so yeah."
"Well," Suki said, sitting next to Katara, "I'm am just so proud of you!" She put her hand on Katara's shoulder and smiled at her. "Well, it's getting late. Good night."
Toph replied by snoring, obviously asleep.
"Night," Katara said, pulling the covers over her.
Aang and I are together
OoO
Jasmine Dragon, Inner Ring of Ba Sing Se (morning)
Aang yawned and sat up. He looked around the room and saw Sokka and Zuko still asleep. He got up and got dressed, looking for a mirror. He found one and walked up to it.
The airbender stared at his self through it and sighed in relief.
It's over, Aang, get a grip, the war's all over
Then he smiled.
And, Katara likes you, what could be better than that!
He quietly opened the door, hoping he wouldn't wake Sokka or Zuko. He walked up to the girls' room and he put his ear up to it. All he could hear was Toph's snores and the gentle breathing of the other girls. He sighed and walked down the hall into the main room of the Jasmine Dragon. He walked out the door and onto the patio. The sun hadn't risen heard footsteps behind him and instantly swished around and took a fighting stance. He loosed up when he saw who was in front of him.
Katara.
"Hey," Aang said, blushing, "Katara."
MAN! I'VE GOTTA STOP BLUSHING WHEN I'M NEAR HER!
"Hey, Aang," Katara said, walking up next to him. She pointed out towards the horizon, "Look!" The sun was just starting to rise.
Aang turned towards it and smiled.
Katara blushed and scooted closer to Aang. Aang closed the distance between them and wrapped his arm around her waist. The water bender lightly gasped, but then calmed as she laid her head on his shoulder.
OoO
Inside the Jasmine Dragon, Inner Ring of Ba Sing Se (morning)
"Awwww, that's adorable!" Suki whispered. Sokka scooted closer to get a better look at the couple.
"Okay, I must admit that that is pretty cute. But, I still get queasy thinkin' about it." Sokka replied, staring at his little sister and the avatar.
"What's so wrong about it? We're goin' out. Why can't Katara and Aang?" Suki whispered back, without taking her eyes from the beginner couple.
"They're younger than us."
"By two years!"
"Yeah. Katara is. But Aang is twelve. That's four years younger than us, and two years younger than Katara," Sokka tried to prove his point.
"Good, Sokka, you can do math," Suki teased, "But Aang can have the maturity of a fourteen-year old. So therefore-,"
"He doesn't always have the maturity of a fourteen-year old. He tries to make a game out of anything he can," Sokka argued.
"'Cause that's expected of a twelve-year old," Suki said.
"But you said he has the maturity of a fourteen-year old!" Sokka complained.
"No," Suki said, getting annoyed from the topic, "I said Aang can have the maturity of a fourteen-year old. I didn't say he did have the maturity of a fourteen-year old!"
"What are we whisperin' about?" came a whisper behind them.
Quickly, the two spun around and saw who was speaking. It was Zuko. But he wasn't alone, because behind him were Mai and Toph.
"What are you guys doin'? Zuko asked.
"We're spying on Aang and Katara," Sokka answered, looking back at the couple, still in each other's arms.
"We're not spying," Suki corrected, "We're observing."
Zuko stared at her, "That's the same thing as spying."
"Yeah, and I like to spy. Agent Sokka, reporting for duty," Sokka said, pretending to go into stealth mode.
"What is everybody doing out here so early?" Iroh came out and asked.
Aang and Katara gasped and turned around, finding the group of "spies" looking at them in shock. Almost everyone's mouth was open to the floor.
Katara's look of shock almost instantly turned to rage, "What were you guys doing! You were spying on us, weren't you! Why would you do that!"
"Okay, let me answer this guys," Sokka said, turning from the gaang and back to Katara and Aang, "-clears throat- We were spying on you. Yes, yes we were. 'Cause we're bored and-,"
"We think you two go perfectly together!" Suki quickly added in.
"Ugh! You guys are impossible!" Katara stomped off towards her room.
Aang quickly scooted away and walked up to Iroh, "Could I have some tea, please?" he asked.
"Sure," Iroh said, and then to everyone, "What does everyone want?"
So the rest of the gaang gave their orders and Aang took a cup of tea to Katara. He walked into the girls' room and almost cracked up at what he saw.
Katara was sitting on her bed, in a cross-legged position, saying, "Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhmmmmm, Ohhhhhhhhhmmmmm,"
Aang set the cup of tea down, and walked over to Katara. He sat down beside her and asked, "Uhhh, Katara? What are you doing?"
Katara opened up one eye and looked at him. "I am trying to calm down by meditating. Oooohhhhhmmmmmmmmm,"
Aang giggled. "Haha, that's not how you're supposed to do it."
"Oh? Then how do you meditate, Aang?" Katara asked, opening both of her eyes and looking at him.
"Well, you sit like this," Aang said, putting his feet in a meditating pose.
"Okay," Katara said, shifting her feet to the position.
"And you close your eyes," Aang continued, closing his eyes.
Katara followed and closed her eyes, "Okay,"
"Put your hands upward on your knees making an 'okay' sign."
"Okay," Katara muttered, following his instructions.
"Now take a few deep breaths," Aang said, beginning to take slow, deep breaths, "Like this."
"Okay," Katara said, breathing like Aang was.
"Now all you have to do is say, Ohhhhhmmmmmmmmm, like you were before," Aang said, smiling.
"But you don't always say that," Katara stated.
"That's because I say it in my mind. But I actually think it is more calming just to say it," Aang suggested, beginning to say "Ohmmmmmmm,"
"Okay, then." Katara said, shrugging, "Ohhhmmmmmmmm. Ohhhmmmmmm."
"That's right. Now just continue to do that," Aang said, joining her in meditation.
OoO
The rest of the gaang was drinking their tea and having a good time. It took them a while to realize that Aang had left.
Suki soon got up to check on them, and Sokka followed. As they walked past the girls' room, they heard something over and over again.
"Oohhhhhhhmmmm, Ohhhhhmmmmmmm."
"Do you hear that?" Suki asked, putting her ear up against the door.
"Yeah," Sokka replied, also putting his ear on the door.
Zuko walked up to them and whispered, "What are you guys doing?"
"This time we're observing," Sokka answered.
"Okay?" Zuko said, kneeling next to them, "What do ya hear?"
"See for yourself," Sokka said, making room for Zuko on the door.
So there they were, sitting on the floor of the Jasmine Dragon hallway listening to the meditation of Katara and Aang.
"Should I check what their doing?" Suki asked the two.
Both boys shrugged and turned back towards the door. Suki then decided, "Hey, move over so I can peek through the door," she whispered, shooing the boys over. Once they were over, she grabbed the handle and ever so quietly, she cracked open the door.
She looked through the small crack and saw the two sitting on the bed, meditating, both of them saying the 'Ohhhmmmmmms' in perfect unison.
Suki quickly shut the door and turned to the two, "I think they're bonding."
Sokka and Zuko turned their heads to each other but then looked back at Suki, "How?" they both asked.
"Well, they're both in there sitting on the bed, saying 'Oooohhhhmmmm'," Suki said, giving weird looks towards the room.
"They're meditating I guess," Zuko said, "Aang usually does it, it's most commonly done by air benders in large groups, but it's sometimes done separately."
"Oh no!" Sokka whispered, somewhat loudly.
"What?" Suki and Zuko asked.
"Katara's finally lost it!" Sokka said, "She thinks she's an air bender!"
Suki and Zuko both gave Sokka a blank expression, followed by shaking their heads in embarrassment.
"Get out of the way, guys," Toph said, walking through them and busting open the door.
You probably know what happens next, many jaws are dropped, many gasps were heard, and one very angry water bender almost breaks her vocal cords.
"YOU'RE SPYING ON US AGAIN?" Katara yelled with all her might.
"Actually, this time we were observing," Sokka pointed out timidly.
"I CAN'T BELIE-,"
"Katara " Aang said, grasping the teen's arm, "Calm down, take a deep breath."
Katara took a very deep breath and held it in.
"Now let out, Katara."
She let the air out.
"Take a deep breath."
She took another deep breath.
"Now let it out."
She did and Aang patted her back, "Good girl, Katara."
"I need some fresh air," Katara said, standing up and walking up to the door, "Aang, want to come with me to town?"
"Sure," Aang said, air bending himself from his seat and walking to the door.
As Katara walked past the still-on-the-floor teens, she said, "Oh, and, DON'T. SPY. ON. US."
So the new couple exited the Jasmine Dragon, hand-in-hand, headed towards the town.
OoO
Main Ba Sing Se Shopping Area, Inner Ring of Ba Sing Se (late morning)
As the couple went along, still hand in hand, they sat outside a high-classed restaurant and relaxed. They talked about random things and soon they both dozed off, lying against each other's shoulders. They did until-
"Avatar Aang! Is that you?"
Aang quickly bolted upright, making Katara jump up in surprise. They both looked up to see who was there and they were surprised to see three little kids, two boys and a girl, standing before them.
"Hello there, do you guys need anything?" Aang asked the group.
The boy in front quickly turned behind him towards his friends and squealed, "Did you hear that? Avatar Aang asked me a question!"
"Well, answer him!" The other two squealed back.
The boy turned back and said, over happily, "No, we don't need anything, but we're your biggest fans!"
Aang looked at Katara and said, "Hey Katara, we have a fan club."
The boy turned around again and said, "I think he likes us!"
They all turned towards Aang and bowed, "Avatar Aang, we are at your service." People around the group starting giving them odd looks so Katara quickly stood them all up and asked them where their parents were.
"We don't have parents, they were killed in the war a few years ago," The little girl said.
"Aw," Katara said, kneeling down in front of them with a worried expression, "Where have you guys been staying?"
"We had been staying with Ms. Haniakitoki (A/N- H-on-e-ah-key-toe-key), but we don't like her so we ran away!" The other boy said.
"What are you guys' names?" Aang asked, "We need to take you back."
"Well," The first boy began, "My name is Buyou."
"And my name is Usagi!" said the little girl.
"My name's Noboru," said the second boy.
"Are you all related?" Katara asked them.
"No, we all met at Haniakitoki's orphanage," said Buyou.
"Why are you all here? Why did you run away?" Katara asked.
"We ran away because Ms. Haniakitoki is the meanest orphanage lady ever! We're here to protect you! We thought that since you are always in danger of fire benders killing you, we could be your bodyguards! Look at our awesome fighting skills!" Buyou said, signaling his group to start their 'performance'.
They all started to jump around chopping at the air and occasionally yelling, "Hyyahh!" "Hah!" "Die!" "Whoosh!" "Boom!"
"That's very good," Aang and Katara giggled.
"And that's not all we can do! We will be the best bodyguards ever!" They all yelled in unison.
Aang laughed, "That's very kind of you, but, the Fire Nation isn't hunting us anymore, we aren't in any danger."
"Yes, you are!"
"From what?" Aang asked.
"Bandits!"
"Bandits won't get us, just cause we're the Avatar gaang, it doesn't mean we're rich," Aang said.
"But isn't Fire Lord Zuko in your group?"
"Yes."
"He's rich!"
"Yes. But that doesn't mean we're rich. We're actually happy the way we are," Aang said happily.
"But you could still get robbed."
"We could fight them off easily."
"Well We still can be bodyguards to you for other things."
Katara sighed, "I know you guys mean well, but, you need to go back to the orphanage."
"NO!" The kids cried in unison.
Aang sat down in front of them, "If you go back to the orphanage, then uh I will declare you guys honorary members of Team Avatar."
The three kids screamed in joy and ran around in circles chanting, "We're on Team Avatar! We're on Team Avatar!"
"Okay, now, where is the orphanage?" Katara asked the prancing children.
"Down the road, it's the big house at the end of the street," Noboru said, pointing down the street.
Katara and Aang looked down the road and saw the large orphanage, "Oh that big house."
"Yeah," Usagi muttered.
So, the group set off. After about ten minutes, Noboru and Usagi ended up in Katara and Aang's arms, while Buyou pranced around in circles around them.
"So, how old are you guys anyway?" Aang asked, while Usagi started messing around with Aang's necklace.
"Well, I'm the leader, so I'm the oldest!" Buyou stated, temporarily stopping his prancing.
"I mean exactly how old are you?" Aang asked, grunting as Buyou jumped up on his back, almost knocking him over.
"Oh, I'm eight, Noboru's seven, and Usagi's six," he said, smiling.
Katara smiled a slightly concerned smile at Aang situation and told him, "Buyou, if you don't get off of Aang's back, you might hurt him, and you don't want to hurt him, right?"
Buyou gasped and jumped off of Aang's back and apologized, "Oh, I'm so so so so sorry Avatar Aang!"
Aang straightened out his back and said, "Oh, it's fine."
So as to not hurt Aang, Buyou decided to just hold Katara's hand the rest of the way. Once they got to the orphanage, they saw Ms. Haniakitoki run up to the door yelling,
"You worthless brats! Where have you-oh, hello, Avatar Aang, it is an honor for you to be in my presence," she said.
"That's the nicest I've ever heard her talk," Noboru whispered to Katara.
Katara and Aang sat them down and they walked in with somber expressions. Katara and Aang turned to walk away, but felt upset that they had to give those kids back to that 'evil' woman. They walked back down the street to the restaurant and got a table for lunch. Aang ordered the Noodles and Veggies, and Katara got the Roast Duck with Rice.
When their food arrived they ate it up and headed back to the Jasmine Dragon after paying and tipping the waiter.
Halfway there, four men, dressed in completely dark green suits ran up and said, "Message for Avatar Aang and Katara of the Water Tribe."
Aang and Katara walked up and said, "Okay?"
One of the men ran up and handed them the scroll and Katara and Aang read it as the men ran away.
Hey we were just wondering were you were and yeah. Are you coming back soon? You better We're bored
-Sokka, Suki, Zuko, Mai, and Toph
"We were already coming back, did they need to send a note?" Katara asked, giving an annoyed look to the scroll.
"Well, they didn't know that," Aang said, "Let's just keep goin'"
"Okay."
About five minutes later, the four men came running back and they stopped in front of them and said, "Another message for Avatar Aang and Katara of the Water Tribe."
"Okay, who's it from this time?" Aang asked.
"It is once again from your friends at the Jasmine Dragon," one of the men said.
Aang and Katara sighed and held out their hands for the scroll. They placed it in their hands and they began to read it.
Guys! Where are you! You're freaking us out! You haven't replied to our letter yet! You aren't dead are you!
-Sokka, Suki, Zuko, Mai, and Toph
"If they send us one more letter I'm gonna scream," Katara growled.
"I hate to say it, but me too but I wouldn't scream I'd yell." Aang said.
Silence.
"Let's just keep walking," Katara suggested, starting to walk forward.
Another five minutes past and once again, the men in green came running up. Katara gasped and ran over to the nearest wall, banging her head against it. Aang sighed and took the note.
"Is it from 'Our friends at the Jasmine Dragon this time?" Aang asked the men.
"No, this time it is from General Shinu of the Fire Nation," The man said, handing Aang the letter.
Avatar Aang,
Within the past two days, we have noticed brightly colored lights filling the sky around the Fire Nation. We have also gotten complaints from various spots in the Earth Kingdom as well. Some people believe them to be the Celestial Lights. We think different. We need you to come to the Fire Nation to help us solve this problem.
-General Shinu